Win ButlerPhoto: Michael Loccisano (Getty Images)
Arcade Fire frontman Win Butler has been accused of sexual misconduct by multiple people, with a lengthy Pitchfork report on the allegations saying the accusers had “sexual interactions with Butler that came to be considered inappropriate given the age gaps, power dynamics, and the context in which they occurred.” Three women told Pitchfork they had “interactions with Butler” when they were between the ages of 18 and 23 and when he was “between 36 and 39,” and a fourth person, who is gender fluid and uses pronouns. says Butler “sexually assaulted them twice” in 2015 when he was 34.
Pitchfork notes that it “saw screenshots of text and Instagram messages” related to the allegations and that it “interviewed friends and family who said they recalled being told about the alleged incidents.” The story includes accounts from the four accusers, none of whom apparently knew each other before all of this, but all of their stories imply that they are Arcade Fire fans who somehow met and befriended Butler before the her relationships with him became sexual, which, in a statement she made to Pitchfork — she does not deny.
It’s after that where the stories diverge, with most accusers saying Butler made unwanted advances and Butler saying everything between him and those accusers was completely consensual. He even notes in his statement that he ended a relationship with one of the women after she told him that sleeping with him had been “mentally difficult for her,” and then “promised not to sleep with him again never again with someone I knew so little about. About.” (He also says he “felt a little weird” after realizing he had an Arcade Fire tattoo.)
Butler acknowledges in his lengthy statement to Pitchfork that he had “consensual relationships” with people outside of his marriage to Régine Chassagne (who is also in Arcade Fire with him), but insists in his statement that “each of these interactions” . it has been mutual and always between consenting adults”. He adds that it is “deeply revisionist, and frankly wrong, for anyone to suggest otherwise.” He also apologizes in his statement, saying, “I’m very sorry to anyone I’ve hurt with my behavior” and “I never want to be a part of causing someone else’s pain.” He also notes that during the time period covered by these allegations, he had “started drinking” to cope with “the biggest depression of my life” and that he has “struggled for a long time with mental health issues and the ghosts of child abuse”. “
Pitchfork says that at least one of the accusers (all of their accounts are presented under pseudonyms) found Butler’s statement “frustrating” because he apologized and “challenged his recollection point by point.” The accuser, who goes by Lily in the report, also said that if Butler “could sit down for a moment and realize what she’s done enough to understand that she needs to change her behavior,” then “maybe it would be enough to protect other people moving forward.”
Butler’s full statement to Pitchfork is below, as well as Chassagne’s full statement, in which he says he’s “seen him go through immense pain” and has stood by him because “he’s a good man who cares about this world, our band, their fans, friends and our family.” He also says he has “never touched a woman without her consent” and that he “got lost and found his way back.”
Statement by Win Butler:
I love Régine with all my heart. We have been together for twenty years, she is my partner in music and in life, my soulmate and I am lucky and grateful to have her by my side. But at times, it’s been hard to balance being the father, husband, and bandmate I want to be. Today I want to clear the air in my life, the bad judgment and the mistakes I have made.
I have had consensual affairs outside of my marriage.
There’s no easy way to say this, and the hardest thing I’ve ever done is having to share it with my son. Most of these relationships were short-lived, and my wife is aware: our marriage, in the past, has been more unconventional than some. I’ve connected with people in person, at shows, and through social media, and I’ve shared messages I’m not proud of. Most importantly, each of these interactions has been mutual and always between consenting adults. It is profoundly revisionist, and frankly wrong, for anyone to suggest otherwise.
I have never touched a woman against her will, and any implication I have is simply false. I vehemently deny any suggestion that I forced myself on a woman or demanded sexual favors. This simply and unequivocally, never happened.
Although all of these relationships were consensual, I am deeply sorry to anyone I have hurt by my behavior. Life is full of tremendous pain and error, and I never want to be a part of causing someone else’s pain.
I have long struggled with mental health issues and the specters of childhood abuse. In my 30s, I started drinking while dealing with the worst depression of my life after our family suffered a miscarriage. None of this is meant to excuse my behavior, but I want to give some context and share what was going on in my life at this time. I no longer recognized myself or the person I had become. Régine waited patiently watching me suffer and tried to help me as best she could. I know it must have been very difficult for her to watch the person she loved so lost.
I have been working hard on myself, not out of fear or shame, but because I am a human being who wants to improve despite my flaws and damage. I’ve spent the last few years since Covid hit trying to save that part of my soul. I have devoted a lot of time and energy to therapy and healing, including attending AA. I am now more aware of how my public persona can distort relationships even if a situation seems friendly and positive to me. I am so grateful to Régine, my family, my dear friends and my therapist, who have helped me come back from the abyss that I was certain at times would consume me. The bond I share with my bandmates and the incredibly deep connection I’ve made with an audience through sharing music has literally saved my life.
As I look to the future, I continue to learn from my mistakes and work hard to be a better person, someone my son can be proud of. I say to all my friends, family, anyone I’ve hurt and people who love my music and are shocked and disappointed by this report: I’m sorry. I’m sorry for the pain I’ve caused, I’m sorry I wasn’t more aware and attuned to the effect I have on people. I screwed up, and even if it’s not an excuse, I’ll continue to look forward and heal what can be healed and learn from past experiences. I can do better and I will do better.
Statement by Régine Chassagne:
Win is my soul mate, my song partner, my husband, the father of my beautiful boy. He has been my partner in life and music for 20 years. And for all the love in our lives, I’ve also seen him suffer immense pain. I’ve stood by him because I know he’s a good man who cares about this world, our band, his fans, friends and our family. I’ve known Win since before we were “famous”, when we were just normal college students. I know what’s in his heart, and I know he’s never touched a woman without her consent and never did. He has lost his way and found his way back. I love him and I love the life we have created together.